Land wrangles claim lives in Lira

Conflict on land ownership in Northern Uganda has deepened, with many lives claimed as the communities straggle to resettle in their former homes.

Although government is on land amendment Bill consultations to ensure that a new law is enacted to allow land claimants and tenants live safely, several deaths have been registered in Lira district in the straggle for land.

With the introduction of FIDA Uganda services in the sub region justice will now be practiced because most of the conflicts were as a result of domestic violence.

According the RDC Lira district, Joan Pachoto the straggle for land ownership as communities return home has erupted into killings of innocent people who try to make use of their land a situation that calls for the clan leaders to sensitize the communities to ensure that they settle peacefully on the land. She suspects the recent brutal killing of a one man early June was a conflict on land.

Lack of legal services in the area has also caused violation of human rights including the rights to ownership of land, particularly for the widows and the orphans, whose voices are not heard in claiming for property as they return home. She further called upon FIDA to extend their services to the grassroots.

Although many NGOs have supported communities in Northern Uganda , women salient issues have been left unaddressed leading to increased domestic violence. The Program Specialist Gender Justice UNIFEM, Harriet Akullu says that Legal Aid services are crucial in ensuring that women issues are solved.

With the introduction of FIDA Uganda in the region, the communities, particularly women are hopeful that their issues will now be settled to have peaceful families, regain dignity and get engaged in development activities without discrimination.